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Oh HEY friends...do you remember me?!?! It's been a month since I have posted a blog post...Life happens and it's been happening!

Instead of freaking out or putting pressure on myself to force something to happen, I am just doing what I can when I can. At this point in my business, it is important that I take care of my clients first and then when I have the time to write and share, I will make it happen, but it will happen naturally. So now I am back and ready to write, share, and just go with the flow. I surprisingly have a ton of ideas that I want to write about, but nowadays, it comes down to time, enjoying life, and making sure I'm present in real time and real relationships. Can I get an AMEN!!! But when I do have time to write, you bet your ass I will be sharing, creating, and inspiring, so let's do it, while I have your attention. And let's talk FOOD, my favorite topic...WOOT WOOT!

I LOVE to go food shopping! I know that a lot of people do not like this chore, but there is something exciting about cleaning out your fridge and then going to the store with a clean slate and stocking it all up again with delicious and healthy eats. Yes, this is how I view food shopping. Is it a little weird that I would rather go food shopping than to a department store? Actually, don’t answer that…

Random Side Note: I am REALLY good at shopping atLululemon in store andNordstrom’s online, but when it comes to casually spending an afternoon going store to store, I am the worst. Back to food shopping…I LOVE food. I LOVE to eat. I LOVE to nourish my body. Food fuels my lifestyle and therefore having a fridge that is stocked with the necessary nutritious ingredients is very important to me. I have never proclaimed to be an amazing cook. My meals are easy, require simple ingredients, and are always ready in less than 30 minutes. So my fridge is filled with real, simple, healthy ingredients. These are staples that are ALWAYS in my fridge, no matter how empty the fridge gets, these items are there.

1.NuttZo– If you have been following me for a while, you know my obsession with this nut butter. I may be totally biased since I work for them, but once you goNuttZo, you NEVER go back. Spoonfuls of NuttZo happen every day, as it is my favorite healthy fat. I always have one jar in my fridge, but sometimes there is another one lurking because that one is just for dipping. As of lately, I cannot get enough of the organic crunchy Peanut Pro NuttZo...It’s my JAM! I can honestly say that I go through a jar a week. No shame in my serving sizes...The bigger the better. And we are starting to pop up into a lot more stores nationwide, so make sure that you are following us on Instagram, to find out where you can get all the goods...That's my shameless plug...Thanks for listening...LOL!

2. Hot Sauce – I put hot sauce on almost every savory meal that I make! I love spicy foods and I am currently crushing on Saucy Lips Foods. Their spicy flavors are DELISH! The Jalapeno & Apple is my favorite and I drizzle it on everything and every night. Saucy Lips Foods sauces are gluten-free, dairy free, soy free, sugar-free, and nut free.

3. Eggs – I currently buy the Kirkland Signature Organic Eggs, because they come in a pack of 24 and Shannon and me eat a lot of them. Eggs are versatile, healthy, ready in minutes, inexpensive, and can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, or dinner! Shannon makes the BEST pancakes, so when I get that craving, there better be a few eggs in the fridge for him to whip up those bad boys!

4. Zucchini – Definitely kind of random food that is always in my fridge, but for the past year, there is always a packet of zucchini in there. I now always add 1 small zucchini to my smoothies (recipe below) to make it extra creamy and thick. I typically dice up the zucchini and throw it into the freezer with whatever fruit I am using that day and let it sit for a few hours.

4. Apples – I eat typically 3 – 4 apples a week. I will add them to smoothies; on top of my yogurt bowls; or eat them with a spoonful ofNuttZo, almonds, or a Rise Bar. Apples are jam-packed with nutrients, easy to travel with, relatively inexpensive, and I like the crispness of a good old apple. I LOVE Honey Crisp apples…They definitely are not the cheapest, but I will splurge on a few here and there.

And this is what my fridge looks like.

I try to keep it clean, but it is no way spotless or perfectly organized, because who the heck has time for that? Nothing too exciting or out of the ordinary, but it holds everything I need. I could tell you about the freezer, but I feel like that is its own post, because I seriously freeze EVERYTHING. Did you know that you can freeze Costco Apple Pie and their COOKIES?YES and PLEASE!

As you know, I am no self-proclaimed food blogger, but I do LOVE food...I LOVE my food blogger friends, who bring me food...I obviously LOVE to support these friends...and I LOVE to share their recipes with all of you, because who doesn't want meals that are simple, fresh, delicious, and perfect for Spring and Summer?!?! Meet my good friend Valerie of Thyme and Joy.

Valerie is a personal natural foods chef that bridges the gap between being healthy eating and busy lives by providing simple healthy meals that taste delicious to you and your family. On her site, you'll find musings on healthy living as well as whole food recipes for everyday life. And did I mention she is a Jersey girl too? Us Northeasters always find each other and I am so excited to have met her, work with her, and have another lady in my tribe who not only supports my endeavors but is always there for me when I need to "Take A Moment".

Make sure to learn more about Valerie and then try out one of these recipes. ENJOY!

Thinly slice your sweet potato using a mandolin or very sharp knife. Slices should be 1/4-1/8" thick. Layer the slices overlapping on the bottom of the pan evenly to create the bottom crust. Once layered, put in oven for 25 minutes or until potatoes are 80% cooked through.

Slice up your bell pepper into thin strips along with your red onion. Heat a skillet to medium heat, add 1 tbsp olive or avocado oil and saute onion and pepper for about 5-6 minutes making sure to soften but not fully cook through.

While you wait for your pepper and onion to cool down, crack one dozen eggs into a large bowl and whisk until blended together. Tear up prosciutto into bite sized pieces and add to egg mixture along with thinly sliced green onion. Then add your pepper and red onion mixture to egg bowl and stir until fully combined.

Take potato crust pan out of oven and pour egg mixture right on top making sure you distribute the vegetable mixture evenly. Egg mixture will go under the crust and in between layers and this is ok!

Bake Frittatta for 25-30 minutes or until middle is firm. Let cool and slice into 6-8 pieces.

Time is flying and it is already basically the middle of April. I am loving the longer evenings, the warmer weather, and being able to start running outside without layers. I am one of the few people who does not mind the humidity. Call me crazy, but I just feel healthier...My skin has that dewy glow...It feels good to sweat (okay fine, I’ll admit that the only time I really would rather not look like a hot mess, is when I am actually trying to put on other clothes, besides Lululemon)...And my body just craves big salads, fresh produce, and lighter refreshing meals (I’ve included a deliciously simple salad below by my good friend Valerie for you to try as well). But before we talk about food, let’s talk about a NEW workout!!!

I might be repeating myself, but I love to create workouts! It is fun to put them together and have friends try them out and give me their honest feedback. It is another way for me to get creative, have some fun (yes I consider putting workouts together FUN), and enjoy motivating others to try new things and challenge themselves. With that being said, here is another challenging “GET IT DONE WORKOUT”.

Look it over...Give it a try...And of course, if you have any questions, just ASK, because I love hearing from all of you!!!

CLICK THE IMAGE ABOVE AND DOWNLOAD YOUR COPY

You have completed your workout, you feel AMAZING, you are ready to tackle anything that comes your way, and of course, you need to EAT, because those muscles need to be replenished with all the good stuff. Let's start talking food and food that is simple, refreshing, healthy, and delicious. Because if you know me, I am all about SIMPLE and easy meals and nowadays, everything gets thrown into a bowl and devoured.

A few weeks ago, I met up with another Charleston foodie, influencer, and chef. Like I said in last weeks post, as I go into my second year here in Charleston, I really want to connect with local businesses and influencers to support them and to ask them to support me. Valerie of Thyme and Joy is one of those people. She's a Jersey girl. She's passionate about food, her job, and creating recipes for her clients and blog. And each time we meet up, she brings me food to try. WINNING!!!

Make sure to check out her latest recipe, that is perfect for Spring and Summer. This salad is easy to make and can be eaten for lunch or dinner. Pair it with some grilled chicken, steak, or salmon for added protein and you will be good to go. Bring on that warmer weather and ALL the big ASS salads!